Condolence letter to the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland

Condolence letter by WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit to the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland following the plane crash in Smolensk on Saturday, 10 April 2010 in which ninety-seven people lost their lives.

13 April 2010

ToBishop Jerzy SamiecEvangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland

Geneva, 13 April 2010

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the World Council of Churches I would like to express our profound sorrow to hear of the plane crash in Smolensk on Saturday in which ninety-seven people lost their lives. For Poland, the loss of the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, his wife, leading politicians, military leaders, well known personalities in the financial and cultural life of Poland, as well as clergy of different confessions is a very heavy burden.

We are also aware of the death of Rev. Colonel Adam Pilch, deputy of the Evangelical bishop in the Polish Army, from the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland. Please accept our condolences at this heavy loss for your Church.

We assure you that our fellowship of churches will mourn with you during these sad days, together with the people of Poland, and will pray for the healing of this deep loss for Poland and the entire world.